Showdown

I'm an avid Showdown player. Showdown is a fast-paced, competitive sport specifically designed for people who are blind or visually impaired, though it can be enjoyed by sighted players as well since everyone wears blindfolds. The game is played on a rectangular table, about 3.7 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, with raised sidewalls and a goal pocket at each end. A center screen stands across the middle of the table, raised just enough so the ball can pass underneath but never over it.

Players stand or sit at opposite ends of the table and use flat, paddle-like bats to strike a special plastic ball filled with ball bearings, so it makes a distinct rattling sound as it moves. The aim is to guide the ball off the sidewall, along the surface under the center screen, and into the opponent’s goal pocket while defending your own goal. Each player wears a glove for protection and an opaque blindfold so only hearing and touch can guide them.

A round is won by the first player to reach eleven points while leading by at least two. Scoring is as follows: two points are awarded for successfully getting the ball into the opponent's goal; one point is awarded if an opponent makes a foul, such as hitting the ball into the center screen, off the table, or touching the ball with anything other than the bat or batting hand. Each player serves a set number of times in a row before switching.

The unique challenge and fun of showdown come from relying entirely on spatial awareness, rapid reflexes, and the sound of the rattling ball. Showdown is popular around the world, offering an inclusive, social, and exciting experience for anyone, regardless of vision. The game is easy to set up and enjoy: you only need a showdown table, two bats, the audible ball, a glove, and blindfolds.

Here is a video of me playing Carlos from France from a tournament in Bologna in double speed:

Here I am at the Zurich Open 2025, standing at the showdown table: